Callander

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
latitude= 56.24403
longitude= -4.21446
os_grid_reference= NN628079
official_name= Callander
gaelic_name= Calasraid
population= 2,754 [cite web|publisher=Scotland's Census Results Online|title =Comparative Population Profile: Callander Locality | url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=callander&mainLevel=Locality | date = 2001-04-29| accessdate =2008-09-01 ] (2001 census)
est. 3,130 [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data] (2006)
unitary_scotland= Stirling
lieutenancy_scotland=
constituency_westminster=
constituency_scottish_parliament=
post_town= CALLANDER
postcode_district = FK17
postcode_area= FK
dial_code= 01877

Callander is a burgh in the region of Stirling, Scotland, on the River Teith. The town is located in the former County of Perthshire, and is a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands.

The town serves as the eastern gateway to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the first National Park in Scotland. Due to its location it is often referred to as the "Gateway to the Highlands" [ [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/towns/townfirst515.html Gazetteer Link] ] ; a title it shares with Perth. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2002/jul/05/onyourbikepedalpower.cyclingholidays] The former St. Kessog's Church is now the Rob Roy Centre, offering tourist information for the area.

Dominating the town to the North are the Callander Crags, a visible part of the Highland Boundary Fault, rising to 343m at the cairn. [ [http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/jsp/map_print.jsp?mapX=263210&mapY=708380&zoomLevel=7&isNI=&mapAction=zoomabs&isGeo=y Ordnance Survey - Callander Crags] ] Local walks include Bracklinn Falls, The Meadows, Callander Crags and the Wood Walks. [ [http://www.incallander.co.uk/scotland_walking.htm Callander and Local Area walks] ] The town sits on the Trossachs Bird of Prey Trail. [ [http://www.birdofpreytrail.com/ Trossachs Bird of Prey Trail] ]

Callander railway station opened on 1 June 1870 and closed on 5 November 1965. The former Callander and Oban Railway line is now part of the National Cycle Network (route 7) [ [http://www.sustrans.com/default.asp?sID=1089651611859 National Cycle Network] ] and the Rob Roy Way. [ [http://www.robroyway.com/ Rob Roy Way] ]

Callander achieved prominence during the 1960's as the setting "Tannochbrae" in the TV series Dr Finlay's Casebook.

McLaren High School educates pupils aged 12 to 18 from a catchment area extending to Tyndrum and Inversnaid.

Annual Festivals

* Callander World Highland Games (26th-27th July 2008) [ [http://www.incallander.co.uk/highgames.htm Callander World Highland Games] ]
* Callander Classic Weekend (Aug 2008) [ [http://www.callanderclassic.com Callander Classic] ]
* Trossachs Beer Festival (Sep 2008) [ [http://www.theladeinn.com/TrossachsBeerFestival.php Trossachs Beer Festival] ]
* Callander Jazz & Blues Festival (3rd-5th Oct 2008) [ [http://www.callanderjazz.com/ Callander Jazz & Blues Festival] ]

Trivia

* The fictional villain Destro from G.I. Joe, a military-themed line of toys from Hasbro, is said to come from Callander, and his family have lived there since at least the 15th century.
*The last person to be tried and imprisoned for the crime of Witchcraft in the UK was Helen Duncan, from Callander, during World War Two.
*Track from the dismantled Callander and Oban Railway was used in the construction of the transit system for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City [History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands: Callander and Oban Railway v. 4 (Railways of the Scottish Highlands); John Thomas and John Farrington. House of Lochar; 2 Rev Ed edition (May 1990)]

References

External links

* [http://www.incallander.co.uk/trossachshistory.htm History of Callander]
*oscoor gbx|NN635075